Alpacafarminghasrewards

Alpacas are social creatures, especially when they get around Deborah LaMountain, owner at Alpacas of the Morning Mist in Ruckersville. All 18 alpaca—nine guys and nine gals—rushed to the barn to see LaMountain one hot fall day. The guys start to strut, butting heads and almost hissing at each other as LaMountain grabs some sweet feed.

“If this is going to happen, no one will get any,” she tells the guys as she brings Sampson to the other pen for a hug. “You have to separate them, or you’ll have nonsense otherwise.”

It’s not often you get to hug livestock, but Alpacas with their soft fur are often willing.

The LaMountains moved to the area from Long Island when they retired in 2006.

“I’m an animal lover. We always had animals growing up—fish, dogs, cats, ferrets—we always had something,” she said. “We visited farms in the area and I said ‘yeah, I’d like to do this’.”